Saturday's game against Real Salt Lake has a postseason feel for the Galaxy

CARSON, Calif. -- There's a postseason atmosphere in the air around the LA Galaxy training ground these days.

As club looks to continue their ascent up the Western Conference standings ahead of the start of the MLS Cup Playoffs later this month, the Galaxy have begun to raise their level across the field. LA look to continue the drive to postseason this Saturday in a crucial match against Real Salt Lake, a team that the Galaxy would face in the Western Conference Semifinal if the playoffs began today. For the Galaxy to defeat RSL on Saturday, they'll need another big game from leading goal scorer forward Robbie Keane, who has scored an impressive 14 goals -- the fifth highest mark in MLS-- along with eight assists.

Keane, who scored a goal in the Western Conference Final against RSL last season admits that a postseason atmosphere has arrived at The Home Depot Center a bit earlier this year.

KEANE: "I think so yeah, if you look at the teams that we're playing they're the teams that we could get in the playoffs. It's going to be three tough games, we know that. They're good teams and we're going to get these out of the way and focus on the playoffs, but we're hoping to finish as high as we can."

(On Salt Lake...)

KEANE: "They're a good team and a tough team to play against. From now until hopefully the final, there's not going to be too many easy games. They're very, very good and a solid team. They've been scoring goals and scored quite a few goals against Chivas. We know that it's going to be difficult, but we're playing at home and we always fancy our chances when we're playing at home."